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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ROMANIA: The Earl and Countess of Wessex Visit Romania

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex arrived yesterday afternoon in Bucharest, on their first official visit to our country. Welcome!

Prince Edward and Countess of Wessex have done us the honor of passing the threshold Elisabeta Palace, where Crown Princess welcomed on behalf of King Mihai I.

As has become traditional, the visitors planted a "Memorial Tree" in the Elisabeta Palace's garden. From here on, the tree planted by Their Royal Highnesses will stand by those bearing the name of the Prince of Wales, King Simeon II, the Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Princesses Elena, Irina and Maria of Romania, Archduchess Maria Magdalena of Austria, Princess Muna of Jordan, Prince Nicholas of Greece, Princess Rym of Jordan, the Hereditary Prince of Baden and First Lady of Senegal.

In the evening, a splendid reception was held inside the Diplomat Room at the Athénée Palace Hotel. It was hosted by the "Duke of Edinburgh International Award" Romania, an organization which, on this occasion, has officially opened business in our country.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh created this foundation in 1956 to help perfecting the physical, mental and moral development of young people, especially those from less privileged backgrounds. Today, after nearly six decades of existence, the results of the foundation's work are exceptional. The organization, working in 144 countries worldwide, has programs that have benefited over 10 million young people.

Crown Princess Margareta is royal patron of "Duke of Edinburgh Award" Romania. Her Royal Highness is the cousin of the current Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince Philip. But Crown Princess Margarita is at the same time a great-great-granddaughter of the previous Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Alfred, Queen Victoria's second son, the father of famed Queen Marie of Romania.

The evening gala was attended by a large number of personalities from the diplomatic, economic and political spheres. Also present was Mr. Remus Pricopie, Minister of Education, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Programs for the "Duke of Edinburgh International Award" will be implemented from now, in partnership with schools, high schools and colleges in the country. The National Education Minister will sign Tuesday, June 25, 2013, a protocol of the Foundation "Duke of Edinburgh International Award" Romania, for the promotion of the organization.